UK MoD unveils first steps for British Army Watchkeeper replacement
Project Corvus will look for a replacement for the Watchkeeper Mk1 uncrewed aerial system (UAS) that was retired from service in the British Army in March 2025.
Airbus A400M achieves paratrooper simultaneous dispatch certification
The Airbus A400M transport aircraft has achieved certification of its simultaneous paratrooper dispatch capability and completed full industrial development of the paratrooping deployment capacity.
The certification flight test was competed in May 2020 in partnership with the French defence procurement agency DGA, as well as the Belgian and French Armed Forces.
More than 1,000 jumps were carried out, along with the implementation of new development methodologies based on recording and 3D modelling of paratrooper jump trajectories.
The aircraft can dispatch up to 116 paratroopers using both side doors of the A400M.
Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence & Space, said: ‘This certification completes a challenging journey to achieve this next generation capability. The achievement reinforces the strategic value that the A400M already offers to air force operators.’
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